Man Injured after Dead Snake Strikes!

A man from the US required medical treatment after he was bitten by the severed head of a rattlesnake. He was airlifted from his home in Texas to the nearest hospital, where he was treated with a staggering 26 doses of anti-venom.

The question on everyone’s mind is, how the snake was able to strike after it had been decapitated. According to experts the reflexes of a venomous snake, such as rattlesnakes and cobras, can remain active hours after death – this is thought to be related to the way they hunt their prey.

This story comes with a warning to Brits who travel to countries with potentially dangerous animals. Although this type of attack isn’t too common amongst tourists it’s something that can happen unexpectedly so you should always make sure you have the right travel insurance cover in place – just in case.

Medical costs abroad can be incredibly high, especially in the US, and without the right cover under your travel insurance, you could be left considerably out of pocket if you needed emergency treatment.

The majority of travel insurers will cover medical expenses as standard, but it is important you declare any existing medical conditions before buying a policy. It may also be worth looking for a policy that will cover repatriation back to the UK.

If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by a snake or spider and need medical treatment, you may not be fit to fly home on your return date. There are a few travel insurance policies out there that will offer to cover additional expenses such as refreshments, accommodation and travel until you can return home.

It’s not only snakes and spiders you should be cautious of when travelling – insects, particularly mosquitos, are known to carry diseases such as Malaria which can be fatal. Likewise, in some countries stray dogs, infected with rabies, have been known to bite tourists. By making sure you have the right vaccinations for the country you are travelling to, you will be taking the appropriate measurers to ensure you do not catch the disease.